Find a supervisor
The following staff are available to supervise honours and masters research in the SAFES Excellence in Academic Teaching and Scholarship (SAFESEATS) research group.
Dr Antanas Spokevicius
My research uses molecular, genetic and genomic approaches to uncover causal links between gene structure and function and their relevance for patterning genetic diversity in natural (native forests) and artificial (breeding populations) ecosystems to assist with tree improvement efforts and ecosystem management practices.
Project topics:
- Genomic selection and tree improvement.
- Genetic association and gene discovery.
- Functional characterisation of candidate genes involved in wood formation.
Dr Bonnie Wintle
Bonnie is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist. When we are making decisions about the environment, we rely heavily on the judgements and opinions of experts, but experts are not immune to the psychological, political and social biases that affect all of us. Bonnie researches structured methods for eliciting and aggregating information from experts (including forecasting, horizon scanning), with the aim of producing more reliable, transparent science to support policy and decision-making.
Project topics:
- Improving predictions to support environmental decision-making.
- Horizon scanning to support environmental decision-making.
- Strategic foresight and scenario planning for environmental decisions.
- Meta-research for promoting transparent, robust science.
Dr Peta Taylor
Peta is an animal welfare scientist passionate about animal welfare education for students of all ages and the community.
Project topics:
- Effective methods to challenge misconceptions of animal welfare science.
- Assessing the impact of hands-on learning experiences with animals for lifelong learning and animal welfare.
Sonja Needs
I am currently involved in applied research in using dogs for detection in conservation and for agricultural pests and diseases. Determining firstly the ability of the dogs to detect the target odour and secondly to assess the reliability and thresholds for detection of that target odour. I have extensive knowledge of scent and how it is affected by environmental and atmospheric conditions with expertise in sensory science and human and canine olfactory systems. I am also involved with research around Wine and Viticulture with expertise in frost in grapevines and sensory evaluation of wine and other beverages.
Project topics:
- Can detection dogs generalise to real and live targets when trained on dried or frozen odours?
- Does soil type and wetting affect the ability of dogs to detect target odours?
- Can music be used as a cue and motivator for working detection dogs?
Billy Xynas
Billy Xynas is a Viticulturalist and Oenologist. His key research focus is on wine production in a changing climate. Interests include wine sensory analysis and recently his research has focused on developing water addition/substitution into Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz wine grape must as an accepted fermentation strategy to lower ethanol production and maintain wine quality.
Project topics:
- Oenological approaches for reducing alcohol levels in wine.
- Oenology: Wine sensory analysis and perceptions.
- Accentuated Cut Edges (ACE) as an innovative vinification technique.
- Consumer perceptions of novel wine products.
- Winemaking in a changing climate. Adaptation strategies.